The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-19
NANCY DEDMAN.

young days; as lonesome a place as
any in the country round. And 1t
weren't for nothing rs they gived the
place to the Devil neither; there's the
DEVILS Jumps over to Frensham, and
his Punchbowl ut your feet; and over
to the Downs you sees his very marks!
his claws rs where he grabbed as he
fell. And the deeds done round about
were his own and no mistake.
"I'm thinking now OF a tale as is not
SO known Us it should be. That stone
before we tells OF the poor sailor chap
as was murdered here, for his money
no doubt-comng from Portsmouth
he were; but no stone nor no book, so
far as l know, has spoke for Nancy
Dedman.
"Hers was a death indeed. / can't
speak to the partiklars, for ! had it as
it we're handed down through ninety
years and more; but ] won't tell you
a lie il | can help it, and for all |
haven't it chapter and verse, its won
derful liiesome, too.
1.-THE Deimans lived, when they was
to home. in a bit OF place in the
Combe there. You might pass within
a yard OF it and not see it, so grand
father said. They was OF II smuggling
crew. There was n chain ofthem SNUG
elers, from Portsmouth all the way,
and a wild set they was. They had
the country on their side though, and
the coastguardses was thought no
better OF than they deserved.
There was two brothers, Dick and
Joe Dedman, and their father;
and Nancy was the one girl. She was
a beauty by all accounts-very wild
too, and as rare q one at smuggling as
any of them; and she would ride bare
back on any horse, and be out all
night and all day, and many's the
time when she's kept the coastguard-
SEES at bay, and done many Bit OF
business rs wanted a woman's wit
and mans strength.
"She must have been still lass
when there was news OF O rare lot oil
spirits and baccy, lit was the war
time) and the word was passed along
the line from Portsmouth to Hinde
Head, and beyond TOO, in course.
And the Kings men got wind on it,
and they made ready for a fl ay-they
thought Us how they would break the
neck OF this smuggling business; more
fools they as if poor men was
to be put down and denied their
rights so easy! Well, it seems as
they'd planned to put so many at
each of the smuggling posts, all ready
and they said they would settle all.
and easy. too, excepting the Dedman
lot, on account of Dick Dedman; he
was a wonderful power OF a man!
They'd had q warrant agin him ever
30 long, buC never could lay hand on
him, nor find out where he put up.
So one OF the Kings men, Ia sharp
young fellow, whose father were a
farmer, but lately come over to this
side OF Godalming,) he took the job.
And he dropped down one day on
Nancy Dedman in the Combe, and
made out as he were a sailor on bis
way to Lunnon; and he asked for a
bite and drink. And she looked
him up and down, and her decide
ment were that he meant no harm, so
she asked HIM in and gave 1t he.
And ha talked from one to t'other OF
foreign parts and the wars; and Nan
CIV, she were terrible took up with it
all; and he had, they said, way with
him, and he were an honest young
chap, too, but for his trade. Well,
without so much as her finding out,
she gets to tell he that she is alone till
the night, till the old man come, and
that he and the lads was away; Joe
TO Guildford and Dick to the mill over
by Haslemere; he was but lately come
back and keeling quiet; giving his work,
and everyone was on his side. and
would not betray he to any oil the
Kings men-she, who was that sharp
they called her Hawk-eyed Nance,
she were drawn on and on-and he
wound up with more of his tales. and
went on his way. leaving her think
ing on the Indies, and wishing she
might see the sailor again.
aBut he, he went back to his mates.
and they followed Dick up, and sure
enough they nailed him at the mill,
and he we're warranted and throw'd
into Jail. Well, the fray came of, and
the coast guardses beat the smugRlers
all along the line, and Joe Dedman
was killed in the fray, and the old
man swore as hewould track the trait
or who told on Dick and take his life
- l. -. Ion. lnr had DICK been